IREC forms National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance to scale up green training

Marissa Leshnov/Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) today announced the creation of a new cross-sector initiative to improve clean energy education, training, and job placement efforts and outcomes.

The National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance, supported with grant funding from Bank of America, will align the efforts of key stakeholders across the clean energy and energy efficiency industries to effectively grow an inclusive clean energy workforce. The alliance will virtually convene employers, training providers, organized labor and community-based recruitment and support organizations and energy justice organizations.

Dramatic expansion in the clean energy and energy efficiency workforce will be needed to achieve clean energy and climate goals at state and national levels, including focus areas outlined by the U.S. Biden Administration goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035.

“Data from the IREC-led National Solar Jobs Census indicates the U.S. solar workforce will need to nearly quadruple from its current 231,000 workers to more than 900,000 to reach that goal, and similar gains will be needed in other sectors like energy efficiency,” said IREC President and CEO Larry Sherwood. “While this is a tremendous opportunity, such significant workforce expansion will require strategic coordination of key players across the clean energy landscape. IREC is thrilled to join forces with the National Council for Workforce Education and Bank of America to achieve that.”

Through structured and intentional meetings, the alliance will collectively identify and share resources and information and focus on concrete solutions to shared workforce challenges. It will accelerate development of a diverse and highly skilled workforce through more inclusive and effective recruitment, training, credentialing and employer placements and retention.

News item from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/12/irec-forms-national-clean-energy-workforce-alliance/